First, tried to search on this topic and found articles on Ray LaHood, so I did try to find historical articles. Considering adding HO operating crossing gates at one of my grade crossings. Not sure of which manufacturers to research, and their pros, cons, did see one U-Tube video on MTH HO Crossing Gates, looked very straight forward, only issue seems to be the 22 seconds needed to completely raise the gates, and relatively short length of wire for the optical sensor - looks like it can’t be placed far enough forward to allow enough time for the gates to come down for higher speed trains, guessing these wires can be spliced to make a longer lead, on a relatively small layout, may be a problem. Perhaps the best option on a smaller layout is just operating crossing lights, any manufacturers make just the operating lights? appreciate any advice, sharing experiences
Circuitron makes a Gate/Semaphore Actuator that is used with a Tortoise switch motor
NJ International has a nice line of signals: http://www.njinternational.com/ .
You should also look at the Walthers site for more.
Joe
NJ International makes some decent-looking flashing crossbucks:
http://njinternational.com/hoscale1.htm
Scroll down toward the bottom of the page and you’ll see them (item# 1095). I’ve got a few on my layout connected to a Dallee Electronics flasher circuit, I’m quite pleased with them.
yes you can add wire to move the sensor further out, the layout here favors rifgt hand running so sensors are offset to raise the gates sooner.
the “up” sensor is right next to the crossing, while the “down” sensor is about 7 feet ahead of the crossing.
the mth kit is set up for a flat plywood type layout, because I could not drill from the top, with the template, had to do the whole thing on my back from the underside, and I to make longer push rods needed for this install, as the layout is about 2 1/2 " thick, it took the better part of two days to get everything installed and adjusted…
I also added a power switch so i can turn it on/off. and still need to make a volume and or mute control for it as after about ten minutes the very loud
"ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-d
I am constructing one using NJ International LED Crossbucks with Gates, that will be RC Servo driven, with an ITT Dinger.
Although fairly ambitious, I think I can make it work, right now I only have to put the bellcranks on the bottom of the plate to work the Gates, & other than the sound hold time, it is looking good.
I am cheating by using 1 servo & trying to tie both Gates on the same action. I know that it is not scale & that is one of the reasons I have not gone further.
The other reason is that I have not gotten the right Cap/Res circuit to ‘hold’ the dinger as I would like.
Adding something like that would really make a neat addition to a layout, in my opinion.
I would like to go further with it, & see it in action (probably) all the time!! Ha hah…
Thanks Chad, thinking of NJ Intl OverRoad Lights, and looks like AZATRAX makes infra-red detectors - but then need a bell, speaker, is this the ITT Dinger you refer to? could not find the ITT Dinger, is there a Walthers item number or website to find this on?
The Bell circuit is this one.
It offers a constant loop, or a momentary control, on the 3 place socket.
I put a 1"x2" speaker on mime.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/349-30091
Thanks
One thing to consider with something that will operate as often as a crossing gate is how to maintain and adjust it. You want to leave access under the layout for this. The activating devices described above may last a few years of operation, but will go out of alignment or wear out eventually. Just my [2c]